Manhasset residents are in an uproar with the possibility of a medical marijuana dispensary coming to Manhasset and will be making their voices heard in a public protest this Sunday, Oct. 14, at Mary Jane Davies Park.
Feng Lin and Jie Huang are not standing still about the issue and have formed a new group called Manhasset Association of Chinese Americans. The group filed for a permit, which was granted by the Town of North Hempstead, to hold a demonstration from 11:30 to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
On a flyer, the group warns: “Don’t invite trouble!!! As you may know, MedMen Enterprises, a cannabis company, is looking to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 1575 Northern Blvd, Manhasset, which is across the street from Barnes and Noble, a five-minutes walk from Munsey Park Elementary School, five-minutes walk from St Mary’s Elementary and High School, 10-minutes walk from Manhasset Middle School and High School and only 100 feet away from nearby houses. We understand the people in need of medication. Our biggest concern is the location.”
Senator Elaine Phillips has written a letter to Howard Zucker, M.D. Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health regarding the relocation of MedMen Enterprises. (See letter on p. 2A)
“I am a mom living in Manhasset,” said Wendy Wen. “I really like this peaceful neighborhood. We don’t object to the people using medical marijuana, but oppose to where they want to sell it. A business that sells marijuana should not be located so close to where our children are. We need to protect our children.”
MedMen Enterprises came to New York once it was licensed in 2015. They purchased Bloomfield Industries, which was Nassau County’s sole medical marijuana dispensary, in 2017. It is located at 2001 Marcus Ave., right in the heart of the Northwell Health System, which includes a radiation and chemotherapy complex. According to Daniel Yi, senior vice president of MedMen Enterprises, they want to move operations to a retail area. Northern Boulevard is considered to be prime retail space and has been labeled the Miracle Mile.
“We believe that this gives medical marijuana patients and customers better access to the product,” said Yi. The new location at 1575 Northern Blvd. is in the unincorporated area of Manhasset, under the jurisdiction of the Town of North Hempstead. Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Councilwomen Anna Kaplan are dismayed at the targeting of North Hempstead to cluster marijuana dispensaries. Bosworth has said she also reached out to Zucker regarding the planned facility in Manhasset.
“The purpose of my letter is to start a dialogue to better understand how the locations for facilities are chosen and regulated by the state,” said Bosworth. In a town where last year’s anti-bias campaign was “Not In Our Town,” residents aren’t against medical marijuana, but want to make sure that the medical dispensary is not located in a school or residential area.
